Aortic-intima-resident macrophages are guardians of arterial health

Aortic-intima-resident macrophages (MACAIRs) share the vessel luminal lining with endothelial cells in areas of turbulent flow and protrude into the arterial blood stream to clean the inner arterial surface via phagocytosis, shield nearby endothelial cells from activation by thrombin and prevent microthrombus formation.